Down's syndrome is a
genetic disorder that can lead to
mental retardation of varying degrees.
There is growing evidence of disproportionate impairment of specific
systems such as the hippocampal formation, the prefrontal cortex and the
cerebellum. A brief review of the medical literature does not
indicate any "miracle" nutritional cures or effective natural
treatments. I will update this page as more
information becomes available.

Down Syndrome alternative treatment

CoQ10
Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinol-10) supplementation improves oxidative imbalance in
children with trisomy 21.Pediatr Neurol. 2007. Division of
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
and University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA.
Evidence of oxidative stress was reported in individuals with trisomy 21. In
this study, 14 children with trisomy 21 had significantly increased plasma
ubiquinone-10 (the oxidized component of coenzyme Q10) compared with 12 age- and
sex-matched healthy children. After 3 months of ubiquinol-10 supplementation (10
mg/kg/day) to 10 patients with trisomy 21, the mean ubiquinol-10:total coenzyme
Q10 ratio increased significantly. To our knowledge, this is the first study to
indicate that the pro-oxidant state in plasma of children with trisomy 21, as
assessed by ubiquinol-10:total coenzyme Q10 ratio, may be normalized with
ubiquinol-10 supplementation. Further studies are needed to determine whether
correction of this oxidant imbalance improves clinical outcomes of children with
trisomy 21.

Down Syndrome Research studies,
alpha lipoic acid and l cysteine
Redox balance in patients with Down's
syndrome before and after dietary supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid
and L-cysteine.
Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2003.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible
normalizing effect of antioxidants on certain parameters indicative of
oxidative stress in Down's syndrome. The study was performed in pediatric
patients with Down's syndrome with proven redox imbalance, who were
advised to take a dietary supplementation composed of
alpha-lipoic acid
and L-cysteine for several treatment cycles (one treatment cycle = 30 days
dietary supplementation plus 30 days wash-out). Serum thiol groups, serum
total and septic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and total antioxidant
status of serum were determined before and after dietary supplementation,
using commercially available kits. In all the evaluable patients (n = 20),
after 3.8 treatment cycles, thiol group serum concentrations and
total antioxidant status of serum significantly increased for
both parameters) in comparison with basal values, while serum total and
septic ROS significantly decreased. On
the basis of these results it is impossible to demonstrate the clinical
effects of the biochemical normalization obtained in patients with Down
syndrome after supplying alpha-lipoic acid and L-cysteine. These data
suggest that delaying the clinical expression of redox imbalance in
patients with Down's syndrome might be feasible by normalizing their redox
balance.

Folate metabolism and
Down's syndrome
Abnormal folate metabolism and mutation in the
methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene may be maternal risk factors for
Down syndrome.
Food and Drug Administration-National Center for Toxicological Research,
the Division of Biochemical Toxicology, Jefferson, AR 72079,USA.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1999.
Down syndrome, or trisomy 21, is a complex genetic disease
resulting from the presence of 3 copies of chromosome 21. The origin of
the extra chromosome is maternal in 95% of cases and is due to the failure
of normal chromosomal segregation during meiosis. Although advanced
maternal age is a major risk factor for trisomy 21, most children with
Down syndrome are born to mothers <30 y of age. On the basis of
evidence that abnormal folate and methyl metabolism can lead to DNA
hypomethylation and abnormal chromosomal segregation, we hypothesized that
the C-to-T substitution at nucleotide 677 (677C-->T) mutation of the
methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene may be a risk factor for
maternal meiotic nondisjunction and Down syndrome in young mothers.
The frequency of the MTHFR 677C-->T mutation was evaluated in 57
mothers of children with Down syndrome and in 50 age-matched control
mothers. Ratios of plasma homocysteine to methionine and lymphocyte
methotrexate cytotoxicity were measured as indicators of functional folate
status. A significant increase in plasma homocysteine
concentrations and lymphocyte methotrexate cytotoxicity was observed in
the mothers of children with Down syndrome, consistent with abnormal
folate and methyl metabolism. Mothers with the 677C-->T mutation had a
2.6-fold higher risk of having a child with Down syndrome than did mothers
without the T substitution. The results of this initial study indicate that folate
metabolism is abnormal in mothers of children with Down syndrome and that
this may be explained, in part, by a mutation in the MTHFR gene.

Zinc supplement
Zinc sulfate supplementation improves thyroid
function in hypozincemic Down children.
Cattedra di Endocrinologia, Universita G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 1999.
In subjects affected by trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), hypothyroidism is
the most common endocrinological deficit. Plasma zinc levels, which are
commonly detected below the normal range in Down patients, are related to
some endocrinological and immunological functions; in fact, zinc
deficiency has been shown to impair immune response and growth rate. Aims
of this study were to evaluate (1) the role of zinc deficiency in
subclinical hypothyroidism and (2) thyroid function changes in Down
children cyclically supplemented with zinc sulfate. Inverse correlations
have been observed between age and triiodotironine (T3) and between zinc
and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH); higher TSH levels have been found
in hypozincemic patients at the beginning of the study. After 6 mo of
supplementation, an improvement of thyroid function (TSH levels: 3.96 +/-
1.84 vs 2.64 +/- 1.33 mUI/mL basally and after 6 mo, respectively) was
observed in hypozincemic patients. In the second cycle of supplementation,
a similar trend of TSH was observed. At the end of the study, TSH
significantly decreased in treated hypozincemic subjects and it was no longer different in comparison to normozincemic patients. We suggest zinc supplementation to the diet in
hypozincemic Down children as a simple and useful therapeutic tool.

Vitamin therapy
Vitamin therapy and children with Down syndrome:
a review of research.
Except Child. 1989.
The claim that large doses of vitamin-mineral supplements benefit
mentally retarded children has captured the attention of the general
public and the medical profession. A study by Harrell, Capp, Davis,
Pearless, and Ravitz (1981) reported increases in IQ and improvements in
behavior among mentally retarded subjects (one third of whom were children
with Down syndrome) receiving nutritional supplementation. However,
subsequent studies, focusing exclusively on children with Down syndrome
and using less flawed research designs, have demonstrated that vitamin
therapy is not useful for members of this population.

Use of megadoses of vitamins with minerals in
Down syndrome.
J Pediatr. 1984.
To evaluate the effects of megadoses of vitamins with minerals on the
cognitive intelligence of children with Down syndrome, a two-group
double-blind clinical trial was carried out with 56 school-aged children
with Down syndrome. Children were evaluated at baseline, 4 months, and 8
months with a battery of standard psychologic tests, physical
examinations, and blood tests. The two groups, which were well-matched is
cognitive intelligence and other important subject characteristics at
baseline, were not significantly different in intelligence and other test
scores at the 4- or 8-month test periods. The particular megadoses of
vitamins with minerals used in the study did not produce increased
intelligence in the study population.

Systematic review of the effect of therapeutic
dietary supplements and drugs on
cognitive function in subjects with Down
syndrome.
Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2002.
Department of Paediatric Neurosciences, King's College Hospital, London,
UK.
The objective was to evaluate the effects of therapeutic dietary
supplements and drugs on cognitive function in subjects with Down
syndrome. The study design was a systematic review of randomized
controlled trials of dietary supplements and/or drugs reporting any
assessment of cognitive function in subjects with Down syndrome. Eleven
trials were identified with 373 randomized participants. None of the
trials reported cognitive enhancing effect in subjects with Down syndrome.
Meta-analysis was not conducted due to the heterogeneous nature of the
population, interventions and outcome measures used. Overall, the quality
of the trials was poor with few subjects and generally inadequate
allocation concealment of the treatments given. This comprehensive
systematic review provides no positive evidence that any combination of
drugs, vitamins and minerals enhance either cognitive function or
psychomotor development in people with Down syndrome. However, because of
the small number of subjects involved and the overall unsatisfactory
quality of the trials, an effect cannot be excluded at this point. At
present there is no justification for the use of such regimes outside the
context of large well designed trials. Parents of children with Down
syndrome should be actively discouraged from giving these 'miracle drugs'
to their children.

Down Syndrome supplement,
vitamin and herbal questions
Q. Is Mind
Power Rx suitable for a 15 months Down Syndrome toddler who currently
taking approx. 350mg DHA
daily? If yes, what is the recommended dosage? Any side effects?
A. Thank you for asking but we don't recommend Mind
Power Rx for a toddler. Mind Power Rx was developed mostly for adults.

Q. Do you or have you had clients use Mind Power Rx by Ray Sahelian, M.D.for the treatment of Down syndrome? I noticed that many of these
supplements are also used in Ayurvedic medicine for Down treatment and was
hoping for any information on the subject. There are many ingredients that act
as GABA inhibitors as well as antioxidants and am very curious about the
efficacy for memory and cognition for DS people.
A. We have not had feedback from users of this product for DS.

Q. Your site is wonderfully informative! My baby
daughter has Down syndrome and I was hopeful that glyconutrients were
going to be the miracle supplement to help her condition. Well, thanks to
your extensive review on the matter of glyconutrients, I will not waste my
money on them. Do you have some suggestions for other natural supplements
that can aid Down syndrome's downsides? Right now I use echinacea drops
to boost her immunity. I know there must be more things out there that can
help.

Q. I am a father of a 6 month old Down’s syndrome baby.
I was not aware until the 25th of November when were informed that she may be
having down syndrome. Initially her skull had depression for sometimes and has
taken time to normalize. As such, I am asking for the advice on how best to
assist her. Is there any drugs you would recommend for her at this age that
would boost her capability in the future ? I love her so much that I would like
her to live normal life like other children and give her the best.
A. As of 2013, I am not aware of nutritional supplements
that have been proven to be extremely helpful.